I. SIG/III GLOBAL
INFORMATION VILLAGE PLAZA 2002 Session
IV. TRANSCRIPT of
Contributions
The Global Information
Village Plaza was born out of the idea of going beyond the hype, rhetoric and
‘expert’ analysis by the happy few involved in the preparation of policies and
programs supposed to support the transition into the “information society"
or "digital economy.” Instead, it sought to give ASIS&T members -and
information professionals at large- an opportunity to express their views about
the challenges and opportunities that the so called "information society"
represents in their personal and professional lives. Between July and December
2002, individuals were invited to post short position statements and engage in
discussion about these issues on the SIG-III listserv. The position statements
and major discussion threads (originating from the USA, Canada, Europe, Africa
and Latin America) were then summarized by the moderators, Michel Menou and
Nadia Caidi. Poster boards identifying the major themes, along with direct
quotes from the position statements, were then displayed during a special panel
session at the annual ASIST conference in Philadelphia.
Among the recurring themes were: the rise (and challenges) of
multiculturalism and multilingualism; the changing nature of the public sphere;
the strategies for coping with information overload and pollution; the new
patterns of work and social life; the increased opportunities for social
involvement; as well as issues around digital divide and inequalities. At the
professional level, learning was a much discussed theme (e.g., lifelong
learning for information professionals; the switching focus from information
systems toward interactive learning); along with user-friendliness and
reliability of ICT applications; and the role of ICT as instruments of cultural
domination vs. liberation. The role of the information science and technology
community was viewed as essential in leading the change and educating
professionals about information culture and the potential of ICTs. A call for
better ethics, more openness and leadership (“make it safer, simpler, cheaper”)
was made.
During the ASIST session, all attendees were invited
to browse the panels and add their own comments on post-its. A general
discussion ensued, which attested to the usefulness of such a forum. The
overall positive response to the Global Information Village Plaza led to the
decision to have a follow-up. Check the Global Plaza Archive on the SIG-III
website (http://www.asis.org/sig/sigiii) and stay tuned!
Michel Menou and Nadia
Caidi
(January 2003)
[In E. Toms, ed.
(2002). Information, connections and community. Proceedings of the 65th
Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science and Technology,
Philadelpjia PA, November 18-21, 2002,vol. 39. Medford NJ, Information Today
for the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 478-479]
Global Information
Village Plaza - Celebrating SIG/III 20th Anniversary
Moderators: Michel J.
Menou
City
University London, Northampton Square EC1V 0HB, London, U.K., menou@soi.ctiy.ac.uk
Nadia Caidi
Faculty
of Information Studies, 140 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G6, Canada caidi@fis.utoronto.ca
Presenters: ASIS&T
members, especially SIG/III members, and conference attendees
This
session is part of an interactive process aimed at giving ASIS&T members an
opportunity to express their personal views about the challenges and
opportunities that the so called "information society" represents in
their personal and professional lives. This process is due to run from July
through December 2002. It will include posting and discussion by those
interested of short position statements on the ASIS&T and other
professional listservs. Selected statements will be summarized through a series
of panels. During the session participants in the Annual Meeting will be
invited to first browse through the panels and comment in writing. A general
discussion will later on take place. SIG/III plans to publish a summary of the
process and its outcome.
INTRODUCTION
A major feature in the so-called “information society" or else
"digital economy” is its global nature. It is analyzed, described and
commented by many “specialists”. The same specialists and other happy few are
involved in the preparation of policies and programs supposed to support the
transition into this new era. Yet the lay professional public has little
opportunity to express and confront its views. While general economic and
social challenges or current practices are often debated, what do this “new”
society mean and imply for people is more often than not overlooked.
This project aims at providing an opportunity for all ASIS&T members
and information professional at large to express and share their personal views
BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
In July 2002 a call for participation will be issued on all ASIS&T
listservs and possibly other professional lists. People will be asked to send
to the SIG/III list short (300 words
maximum) position statements on the following themes:
1° What in your opinion will be radically changed in your professional
life as a result of the globalization of the information society?
- Why?
- What should you do in order to cope with the change?
- What
should the information science & technology community do to help you and
itself cope with the change?
- What
should the information science & technology community do to help itself
cope with the change?
2° What in your opinion will be radically changed in your personal life
as a result of the globalization of the information society?
- Why?
- What should you do in order to cope with the change?
- What
should the information science & technology community do to help you cope
with the change?
As far as possible statements will be selected and grouped into
clusters. They may also possibly be amended and/or merged, and reposted for
discussion on the SIG/III list. In
preparation for the session the statements and discussions about each main
topic will be summarized in a poster by the moderators.
At the Annual Meeting
During the session at the
Annual Meeting
a) The posters will be
placed on the walls around the room. Participants will be invited to add their
comments on stickers. Participants will be able to move around the room and
contribute to all topics they wish. They will also be able to discuss with
other participants
b) After 40 minutes,
individual discussions will stop. The moderators will summarize the position
statements, or their main concept(s) and proposals.
c) There will then be a
presentation of the position statements by the moderators standing on a
platform in the middle of the room, followed by a general discussion that will
be recorded.
After the Annual Meeting
After
the Annual Meeting the final version of the most significant position
statements will be edited and assembled into a paper for publication in a
professional journal (such as the Bulletin of the American Society for
Information Science and Technology).
[Posted to all ASIS&T listserves and many
professional lists]
Frustrated by the Dot Force, Dot Opportunity, Dot
Future, Dot For-All, Dot You-Name-It?
Join the Global Information Village Plaza
Celebrating ASIS&T SIG/III 20th Anniversary
Apologies
for duplication. Please forward to all relevant lists and colleagues.
A
major feature in the so-called “information society" or else "digital
economy” is its global nature. This aspect is analyzed, described and commented
upon by many “specialists”. The same specialists and other happy few are
involved in the preparation of policies and programs supposed to support the
transition into this “new era”.
Yet
the lay professional public has little opportunity to express and confront its views
in a truly open and participative fashion, unbiased by corporate, political or
career stakes. While general economic and social challenges or current
practices are often debated, what do this “new” society mean and imply for
people is more often than not overlooked.
This
event will provide a unique opportunity for all ASIS&T members and
information professionals at large to express and share their personal views.
How to participate
First: Send to the SIG/III
discussion list sigiii-l@asis.org a
short (300 words maximum) position
statement on the following questions:
1°
What in your opinion will be radically changed in your professional life as a
result of the globalization of the information society?
- Why?
- What should you do in
order to cope with the change?
- What should the information science & technology
community do to help you and itself cope with the change?
- What should the information science & technology
community do to help itself cope with the change?
2°
What in your opinion will be radically changed in your personal life as a
result of the globalization of the information society?
-
Why?
-
What should you do in order to cope with the change?
- What should the information
science & technology community do to help you cope with the change?
Second: Comment on the
statements posted on the lists
Third: Attend the session at
the ASIS&T Annual Meeting (Philadelphia, PA, November 18-21, 2002 http://www.asist.org/conferences)
and participate in the discussions
Fourth: React to the summary
that will be posted on the SIG/III discussion list after the session.
Contribute to the editing of the paper(s) that will be published later on.
What will happen at the
ASIS&T Annual meeting ?
A few weeks before the
moderators will summarize the statements and discussions about each main topic
into posters. A general poster with the list of topics will be placed in the
registration area so that attendees can put stickers with their ideas and
suggestions throughout the conference.
AT THE SPECIAL SESSION “GLOBAL INFORMATION PLAZA”
a) Topic posters will be
placed on the walls around the room. Participants will be invited to add their
comments on stickers. Participants will be able to move around the room and
contribute to all topics they wish. They will also be able to discuss with
other participants
b)
About the middle of the session, individual discussions will stop. The
moderators will summarize the position statements, or their main concept(s) and
proposals.
c) There will then be a
presentation of the position statements by the moderators standing on a
platform in the middle of the room, followed by a general discussion that will
be recorded.
Don’t miss the opportunity to say your word. It might
not change the course of history but it may make you feel better.
The
moderators: Michel J. Menou (Department of Information Science, City University
London, menou@soi.ctiy.ac.uk ) and
Nadia Caidi (Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto, caidi@fis.utoronto.ca)
Below is the compilation of the contributions received in the 2002 run;
The text in italic corresponds
to postings added on-site during the panel session at the Annual Meeting, or
made through oral comments. Some sentences were slightly edited.
The subtitles under each question and the sorting of individual
contributions under them is the responsibility of the moderators. Obviously the
various themes have close connections one with another.
AMAZING IS N'T IT?
·
Can’t say; the subject is far
too broad – global – for me to offer any meaningful feedback. Could not we
consider some more specific aspects?
·
Rather than focusing on whether globalization is
'good' or 'bad', I feel it is more useful to understand that it is both,
simultaneously.
·
The best
metaphor for the Internet is “a global bazaar”
·
I am referring to globalization in most of my
lectures, talks and publications. I even suggested the concept of “documentary
globalization”.
·
It is now possible to read, immediately after its publication,
Tom Wilson’s review of the Brazilian collection "Inteligência
organizacional e competitiva, organized by Dr. Kira Tarapanoff, one of our most
remarkable professors and researchers. In addition, it is possible to talk to
Michel Menou, in Portuguese, right from our personal mailboxes.
LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY
·
Globalization tends to impose English as the main
language. But it remains for many people a foreign language. This is in fact
reducing access to information for those who don’t master English well enough.
In scientific information (publishing, databases, conferences) English is
dominating, even when the majority of participants are not English
speakers.
·
Eventually
multi-national groups have to renounce to collaborating with English speaking
partners in order to avoid that the use of the other languages will vanish in
practice.
·
And the earth was of one language ...
·
I have a superstitious fear of a revisitation of
Babel. There may be forces in the diffusion of English which will/have
transformed English itself, but restrained by the continuing dissemination of
North American forms/norms. Consider (and contrast) the transformation of Latin
in Carolingian Europe.
·
If the information professionals are required to learn
foreign language to serve in multicultural communities, this would be a great
burden to them and make their career even harder than before.
·
The only country in which language learning is not
encouraged is the US !!
·
Everyone should learn some foreign language, not just
information professionals
·
Language barriers must be broken if you want global
participation. Therefore tools which translate metadata or indexing data at the
word level must be developed in a revolutionary way
·
Collection and translation of non-Englishresearch
papers is very slow and time consuming. Translation software has to be more
specific (e.g. scientific language, business language)
MULTI CULTURALISM
·
The global digital environment provides easy tools to
make global communication easier; however, at the same time, it raises
problems, such as cultural and language barriers in the communication or
sharing the human resources from one culture or country to another.
·
The Internet provides us with information that would
not otherwise be available and at a rapid speed but we are aware some of this
information can be undependable and misleading. It is quite a task in our
culture to shift through Internet and print sources for quality and reliability
especially when relating to material from countries whose material we lack a good
knowledge and experience with.
·
It is a chance for libraries if they develop national
resources that can be at the same time used by every one on the globe.
·
The passing on of information has become more complex
when we are dealing with materials from other lands. Almost all material that
we locate is influenced by the cultural and society that the material comes
from. The wording of documents the very nature of the material is very much a
product of the society that has ‘ownership’ of this material.
·
As an archivist, I have a radical new opportunity to
bring my archives, its contents and contexts, to the global information
society. If I do this with sensitivity for my culture and other cultures,
presenting my archives in a fashion appropriate to international perspectives,
I can ensure that something of my community's culture and its diversity is
represented.
·
At least in Canada we live in a multi-ethnic society
and thus people from all over the world have an interest and desire to obtain
information and material on their country and culture. Because they are living
away from home they often want to maintain ties with their homeland and
information professionals are asked to help them gain access to pertinent
material that is of interest to them. As well, many others wish to learn about
other lands.
·
From the lack of nuance in a formal e-mail, to the
pressures of a real-time overseas video conference, to the awkwardness of an
operator-assisted relay call for the hearing impaired, we encounter
opportunities for culturally based miscommunication every day. And while it is
impossible and unproductive to anticipate and accommodate some sort of
etiquette for every such eventuality, each encounter of this sort does tend to
underscore the difficulty of communicating effectively across cultural lines.
·
A community's archives stand as evidence of its
culture - in all its variety - and are witness to cross-cultural interactions.
Therefore, they can actively balance the tendency of globalisation to reduce
cultures to simplistic, superficial components -- demanding an international
social protocol. Instead, archivists can emphasise the need to expand
communications strategies, to adopt pluralist perspectives, and most
importantly, to learn how others communicate and why.
·
Globalisation is often seen as the negative,
overwhelming outcome of information technologies that allow the world to
communicate, but which also force cultural variability to be reduced to
simplistic common denominators and complex human interactions to the binary
abstraction of bits and bytes. However, the technology adopted by the global
information society does support the microcosm of the community.
BECOMING INFORMATION RICH AT A CLICK
·
The globalization of the information society will
grant access to vital information, resources, links and funding for the smooth
operation of grassroot based Non-Governmental Organizations who need training
of field staff, reading materials; for instance those involved in HIV/AIDS
campaigns shall benefit from the wealth of information and solutions available
for the control and management of this calamity facing mankind.
·
It's difficult to imagine how we managed without the
wealth of information that the Internet makes available. The task is now to further harness it's power.
·
With the touch of a computer key, a world of known and
unknown trivia, facts and knowledge is revealed. I can access information from around the world without a formal
or lengthy research process.
·
Perhaps the greatest impact of the globalization of the
information society on my personal and professional life will be the use of the
Internet. There is such a wealth of information instantly available to
individuals.
·
We live in a world that is bombarded with various
types of information from a huge number of sources, which is truly astounding.
·
I am a 40 years old Information Science specialist and
I was waiting for the Global Information Society changes which means I am not
so surprised by the events. I think there are many positive changes in the
field of libraries, especially the possibility to have quick and global access
to any kind of information and to send mails and comments to colleagues all
over the world. And this is developing so fast. It's incredible.
·
The increase in the manufacture of diverse information
resources and their widespread availability through relatively inexpensive
mediums such as the Internet, are positive by-products of the information
society.
·
To become rich at a click the poor need first to have
computers, connection, to be educated, etc. …
COPING WITH INFORMATION OVERLOAD & POLLUTION
·
The major hurdle that I see in my future career will
be overload. There will be so much
information available that it will take forever just to sort through it all to
find the relevant information.
·
Globalization ensures that masses of information are
available internationally. Screening
this mass for quality, appropriateness, and applicability to user needs is
daunting; librarianship’s field is forever expanding and changing. What makes the field stimulating also makes
for huge challenge.
·
Certainly, I'll have a responsibility to make clients
aware of the potential shortcomings of information found through the internet,
helping them to evaluate the material that's available.
·
But, the internet poses challenges to its users. The sheer amount of information available
can be overwhelming. I sometimes feel
information- saturated. The
classification and authority of the internet have not yet been standardized so
finding pertinent, current and accurate information is not guaranteed. Indeed, websites and information seen today
might have disappeared by tomorrow.
These issues will certainly affect me both as an individual and as an
information professional.
·
Firstly, may I suggest the term for discussions not
related to radically changes. Yes, changes are huge, but we can indicate more
evolutionary process, which is related to reinventing ourselves and rethinking
our possibilities. Technologies helped a lot and it is possible to understand
what was lost. We are loosing channels of communication and our functional
activities are so much related to sending data from one place to another.
·
Sometimes it is not useful at all, besides, we are
loosing quality in many areas. Optimistic prognosis may be mentioned because of
chances to play "win-win" game, navigate intellectual capital and
participate in all-life lasting learning.
·
With the achievement of vast quantities of information
has come the need to shift our emphasis from simply finding information to understanding
its origins, perspectives, and bias.
The information profession should consciously recast its role to
emphasize the need for a greater understanding of the social contexts of the
information resources now being produced for public consumption.
·
“Information rich” or “Information flood”? How about
spams?
SAVING THE PuBLIC SPHERE
·
I find globalization’s move toward the privatization
of information access worrisome. “An institution that allows the individual to
access information at no cost [is] viewed as a threat to…profits… The library’s
role in keeping information in the public sphere is…marginalized”
·
Information is a knowledge-enabler, but globalization
is making it a purchasable good. This
playground of the rich makes for an unacceptable “computer-generated caste
system”. (Koltusky, 2001,
http://slis.ualberta.ca/cap01/laura/ithome.htm.)
·
To hold this in check, librarianship’s value-free
stance must go.
·
Technology is not a neutral medium. Libraries must
work hard to protect free access to high-quality information.
·
With the globalization of the information society
comes an idea of diffusion and dissemination – or democratization and spreading
of knowledge – which imposes itself to all people and claims to be achieved.
So, there’s one central word related to this new scenery and to these new
demands: access. Not necessarily free access. Only access. And although there
are many ways of having access to what is being done and spoken in other
regions of the world in each moment, the most important of them seems to be a
new way of thinking.
·
The technological infrastructure should not be
the only concern. Even more important is the content of information and its
ability to support knowledge creation. The global information society is more
concerned with the accumulation and distribution of stocks of information. The
production of knowledge requires appropriation of the contents, what is in
essence an individual process
·
What about the role of public libraries for
information literacy.
·
Once we adopt the business cycle of information
we begin to neglect those who can’t aford. To some extent we still need to
adopt the “free” approach. Or else we further disconnect communities
TECHNOLOGY PUSHING CHANGES
·
It gives me access to state-of-the-art technical information,
the possibility of downloading and trying out new specialized software which
would never have been available on the local market.
·
These empowering instruments allow me to find new,
smarter solutions to the local problems we face in our professional day to day
work. This has been exciting and rewarding.
·
On the negative side, the pace of technological change
and the inbuilt obsolescence of the ICT market is a permanent source of
frustration as it constantly outruns my capacity to absorb it.
·
The deployment of Ipv6 will have drastic consequences
at both macro-economic and societal levels; they need to be paid high
attention.
·
While the world has become a smaller place, in the
sense that people with access to information technology no longer experience
certain boundaries and limitations when searching and obtaining information,
our existence is often forced to adapt to the new technology.
·
The globalization of the information society has
affected my professional role for years; however, the pace of ICT advancement
has created significant changes.
·
In our rush to adopt new and farther-reaching
technologies, sometimes we forget that these technologies are just the tools,
and that the goal is to communicate with the people beyond use of the
technology.
·
Libraries have seen remarkable changes in recent years
due to the influx of new technology.
·
Increased options for interactivity and communications
online and offline may either erode or enhance a “level playing field” for
diverse participants based on power arrangements and the ethics of
communication choices/options/mode/availability.
·
As technology restrict access so can it improve
access. Software developers can and should continue to code browsers to “sniff”
the computer’s language settings and serve up localized content based on these
settings. The language barrier is one of the most surmountable technologically.
·
It is a double edged sword. It helps create a
“public sphere” and leads to “democratization” but it also radically helps the
“hate groups” to share “hatred”it is a tech, it depends on the users.
·
NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE CHANCE TO BE THE SON OF AN INUIT MOTHER
·
People with
disabilities will be deprived from basic information services unless special
attention is paid to their particular needs.
NEW PATTERNS OF WORK
·
I will need to spend a smaller proportion of time for
face-to-face interactions and transportation in my work life.
·
With access to work files from a home and/or laptop
computer and voice messaging systems, I can ‘attend’ meetings, access emails
and project plan without being in the office.
·
However, due to this increase in the quantity and
accessibility of information, the information professional's authoritative role
as the 'gatekeeper' of information who provides access to our patronage, is
diminishing.
·
We have a
number of complex issues to tackle with now.
Not long ago, it was just a few online/offline databases that were at
our disposal. Now, we have to tackle
the information overload problem on behalf of the community we serve. In addition to us providing information to
target groups, a number of proactive services have started offering
services. Most of these services come
at a premium as these are led by corporations.
We need to be on our guard, at the same time grab opportunities to
demonstrate our worth.
·
Most people do not have sufficient time to find the
information they are seeking, information professionals’ services will be in
demand by those who require accurate, up to date and authentic or correct
information not just anything that can be downloaded from search engines like
Google, etc.
·
In my work with the students, Internet has open a lot
of new possibilities.
·
The role of the professional in the “new era” will
change in that things will be done differently. The traditional method of
performing functions such acquisition, processing, circulation, storage and
dissemination of information/activities and mode of service- delivery in the
library will change. The activities will be performed using ICTs which will
bring speed, less cost and efficiency in to the library system. The nature of
materials in the library will change from paper (book)-based to electronic
journals. The library will change from book collection and storage to access
and provision of electronic information services.
·
Professionally, I will be dealing with relatively
well-informed clients who know about web-searching. Requests for assistance will mean finding highly specialized and
difficult to find information.
·
As physical spaces are loosing their exclusive power,
new forms of interaction and relationship are emerging at all levels.
·
Firstly, our service and product development attempts
to remove the human contact between the company and our clients. Secondly, there are remote working
opportunities that allow me to perform my job without being in an office
environment.
·
The reason for this change is that we need to be able
to service our clients twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It is through ICT that this can be managed
via the Internet, voice recognition services and other methods.
·
The change from teacher to digital information
professional would be crippling if left unprepared. Every type of information resource will be digitally stored.
·
Firstly the changes will affect the image of the professionals.
The image of the professional will be enhanced through the promotion and
marketing of activities and services globally on the Internet. The Internet can
provide full employment for the librarian for a long time.
·
Informed reasoning and decisions based on facts as an
environmental NGO leader and activist are now greatly facilitated.
·
ICT enable easier movement among employees in
different locations
ICT NEO COLONIALSM
·
International Projects that claim to support ICT
development in order to alleviate poverty do not care about local private
companies that seek to enhance their capabilities and train their national
professionals.
·
They are only interested in contracting international
consulting firms that absorb most of the funds doing wonderful surveys in
English with splendid layouts which no one understands and are of no use for
any one, but display the expression "poverty alleviation" at least 20
times.
·
It so happens
that what the World Bank and the donor community see as priorities for the
local private sector development, is not the same as we see. They want us to
produce for the global market. We want to produce vital, local information for
the local market.
·
International
experts do not seem to understand that the "digital divide" is not
about hardware, but is a philosophical, conceptual problem as well as a
training problem. And a problem of scale and market size. The ICT
infrastructure might be in place, but the minds have to change in order to take
the full advantage of it. The underlying organization has to be in place.
Someone has to be willing to pay for the production of relevant contents.
·
Globalization of information can be seen as biased
towards the West or North American due to the fact that the majority of the
media presented is controlled by companies owned by conglomerates who are based
in the United States of America.
MORE INTERACTION WITH PEERS
·
On the positive side it has taken me out of
professional isolation, allowing me instant access to an international forum of
colleagues to exchange ideas with.
·
Our work in the Information and Library Educational
Association - ABECIN, has become more interesting and richer due to our closer
contacts.
·
On the other hand, globalization has created an
unprecedented opportunity for collaboration with a diverse community of
professionals in the field.
NEW SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
·
The globalization of the information society brings to
us all – librarians, professors within LIS schools, consultants or any other
kind of information workers – either in our professional or personal lives, a
more sound need to be responsible. Now it’s not enough to continue exercising
our everyday living or doing our current work locally, without noticing all
that happens beyond our own places. It is impossible for us to ignore the
connections between what we are doing here and what is being practised out
there, across the world.
·
A "right to communicate" is much debated
these days (in conjunction with the so-called World Summit on the Information
Society).
·
It is rather an "obligation of dialogue"
that should be called for.
·
For dialogues to differ from the usual parallel
monologues, or self-assertion, especially across cultures, we all need to learn
more and better about our interlocutors and their particular circumstances in other
countries.
·
There are many reasons why the changes will come and
this is because facilities will be
available to effect the changes. Meanwhile it will be disastrous if one does
not change in the ways/methods of doing things-traditional to new era. Better
results will be achieved because the new era will promote and enhance the
socio-economic and political status of the people. Information will be
available and people will be well informed about life around them.
KEEP LEARNING OR DIE
·
Professionals in a variety of fields often pay lip
service to the notion of "life-long learning", an expression I used
to think was as meaningful as any other sound bite. However, as a result of the globalization of the information
society, "life-long learning" is exactly what I am facing in my
career as an information professional.
·
Information is being created, exchanged and
disseminated around the world in ways that transcend the traditional barriers
of space and time. I am confronted with
the daunting prospect of constantly upgrading my skills in order to keep up
with these changes.
·
As the traditional custodians of information,
librarians need to be aware of the implications of these changes and develop
technological and managerial skills that will enable them to make effective use
of information to meet their organization’s changing needs.
·
Analyses of local needs are necessary! E.g.
international foundations are supporting the training of users and librarians
had not the opportunity to be trained before their users!!!
LEARN LEARN LEARN
·
Learn better techniques of information dissemination
and handling especially use of computer for effective information management.
·
Primarily, information professionals have to
continuously learn more computer technological skills to catch up with the
rapid changes in the digital world in order to provide effective services.
·
Use the resources available to keep informed about the
latest trends and information communication technologies. The Internet will be particularly
significant in this regard
·
In order to cope with the change, I need to be aware
of ICT advances
·
I also need to take advantage of at-work ICT training
opportunities.
·
Take classes that are offered by the Universities or
Community Colleges that I live in, to keep myself abreast of the changes and to
keep myself informed.
·
There will be a need for constant upgrading of my
technological skills just to break even with the amount of technology that will
be constantly introduced.
·
I will be able to cope with ongoing change through
continuing studies or self-directed learning
·
In order to cope with the change the role of the
librarian must change to conform with the state-of the art. This can be
achieved through training and must also cultivate the art of creativity. During
the training period the librarian would have to understand modern approaches to
information systems analysis, design, implementation and management. The
librarian should also have understanding and practical skills in a wide range
of relevant computer applications, including in-depth knowledge of
bibliographic software and an exposure to modern developments in
library-related planning and management skills.
·
I'll have expertise in other information retrieval
methods but I'll also need to remain highly skilled at internet searching.
·
As well I will need to upgrade in order to learn ever
better search strategies to enable me to sift through all of the available
information.
·
Read any information given out by the companies
involved and, if possible, buy the software or necessary technology and service
of a reliable on-line provider such as Dialog, Informatics, CanWest, QuickLaw
etc.
LEARN CRITICALLY
·
Continue to learn more about ICT to see how they can
benefit business & management, and vice versa; particularly important are
areas such as logistics, value-chain, marketing and strategic decisions,
management of change
·
Need to be aware of more than just the new and
exciting technologies on the market; need to understand and respect the
differences that can keep people apart as well as the commonalities that bring
people together
·
Maintain my technical literacy and adopt new
technologies as needed
LEARN LANGUAGES
·
In a multicultural environment like libraries it is
recommended that information professionals master other languages than English
NETWORK FOR ACTION
·
Network with fellow information professionals to get
the act going. Otherwise, we will all
be working for the benefit of private interests
·
Continue to bridge communications gaps between
technologists and social scientists which are unfortunately big today
·
Attaining
comprehensive interaction with the global information society is the keystone
to my professional success and personal fulfilment
·
Look forward to exchanging knowledge and ideas with
colleagues around the world.
·
From now on it will be not only possible but
obligatory for us to speak more closely with each other, teaching and learning
directly from our colleagues’ experiences. Perhaps then we can finally build a
consistent and international information science community.
·
Network with fellows in the arts and humanities too
BECOME A SMART ICT USER
·
What can end users do to help ourselves, to improve
the utility, cost-effectiveness and user-friendliness of ICT?
·
Utility: Most ICT has more utility than we need
already, we need to learn how to use what's already there.
·
Cost-effectiveness: Stop upgrading unnecessarily.
Adopt open-source standards.
·
User-friendliness: Scale back your expectations for
features. Every feature (whether you use it or not) adds complexity and
therefore reduces user-friendliness
·
Can you do sophisticated what-if analyses with a 1985
spreadsheet? Of course you can. So why do we all think we need the latest
versions of these and other IT tools? I'll leave that question for you to
decide for yourself.
·
Think of your IT people as your partners,
serving the same primary community, be it academic or corporate. Learn from IT
– not programming language but managing software cycles, projects, vendors,
etc.
BELONG TO PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
·
Being a member of some of the professional
associations will help as they will notify their members of changes that are
taking place in the various media or technology fields.
BECOME SENSITIVE TO CULTURAL & INTERNATIONAL VARIATIONS
·
The Information Professionals find themselves in a
challenging position as searchers and conveyors of information. In order to
find material and to understand the needs of their users requires at times a
keen nuance of each countries approach to gathering and supplying of
information and data. When we talk about diversity, we mean among other things
that people are not clones of each other and thus approach and relate to information
each in a unique manner. Certainly, there are some similarities in how people
collect and maintain material but there are variations based on culture,
economic factors, politics, etc.
·
Learn how to communicate across the linguistic and
cultural barriers I will encounter
·
Participate in the global information society to learn
about international perspectives.
·
This leads to ask which LIS program do include courses
or specific components that are geared at showing the future information
professionals what the information
planet really looks like?
·
LISTEN. Learn a language. Really learn about other
cultures.
·
Absolutely. We talk about multiculturalism but most of
us do not learn languages of other cultures. How can we truly communicate?
CHANGE YOURSELF & YOUR PRACTICE
·
Information professionals have to build a
bridge between past and future, between their traditional skills and the new
technologies and applications. They should be in a constant change process.
·
In sum, calculation of mistakes and analysis will help
to find orientation for the future, I hope so. Changes are helpful in this
case. Hence, humanistic approach may be on the top and preparing should be made
in advance.
·
Each of us
can choose to turn off our cell phone, not checking email every minute,
not getting the 100th TV channel, etc.
PROACTIVE SUPPORT
OF LEARNING
·
Many librarians lack confidence in the face of
increasingly sophisticated technology. It is vital that they be kept in touch
with
·
modern developments and maintain a proactive approach
to their work in an ever changing information world.
·
Initiate many networking events online and offline;
·
Keep members and associates informed about the changes
that would affect professionals in the information filed.
·
Offer advice as and when required
·
Offer workshops to train members and associates who
are willing to learn.
·
Help education planners design courses incorporating
the changes witnessed during the past ten years.
·
The
information science community should provide up-to-date training literature in
plain language for all levels of expertise.
·
The information science community must endow professionals
with the skills necessary to deal with such information. It cannot accomplish
this unless it has equipped itself with the latest technologies, and put
systems in place to make the global village accessible for all its users i.e.
trainees. It must invest in “new”
information, channelling its resources.
·
Information professionals are coming in contact with
personal computers and the Internet while most library schools offer courses in
Computers and information. The new technology is not confined to Personal
computers. There are products based on lasers optical storage, and other
technologies available for library applications such as telephones and the
Internet.
·
I am not familiar with all current debates and no
longer teach in an IS context: but I have introduced considerations about
freedom of speech and widely accepted, but not always noticed, restrictions on
freedom of expression (what does shouting fire in a crowded theater mean in an
electronic environment?) to modules on communication.
BECOME MORE
INTERNATIONAL
·
Pay more attention to the fact that in poor countries
IT may be used to solve a different set of problems than in the rich countries.
Quite often, my local colleagues and I come up with brilliant ideas to put IT
to work in long neglected areas of very basic and crucial local information
management needs, but the international consultants and advisors to the
Government and the donor community simply don't get it, they don't get excited
about the projects because it might be something that their own (rich)
countries solved decades ago -- maybe even manually -- so they can't even
imagine what it might be to live in a situation where those services don't
exist...
·
Information professionals are not all knowing and we
should not expect them to be this is where collaboration is useful.
Globalization brings information sources closer to our door thus providers of
information can and should work as a team to furnish and decipher data.
Cultural and ideological differences can be reduced greatly when librarians,
media figures, politicians and others who have influence over information work
together to better appreciate and grasp our similarities and our diversity.
This is not to recommend a ‘melting pot’ approach but rather to enjoy each
other's differences and the contribution we make to our global community.
·
Learn the real world! There is not only a digital
divide but also a plastic divide ! As if everyone on earth would have an
international credit card. Travel and hotel reservations on-line are reserved
for those who are better off.
·
Involve people from various countries in developing
research and development strategies.
BROADEN ICT ACCESS
·
Work
towards creating markets for affordable information technology devices such as
computers, mobile phones and all such devices.
·
Incentives
for the community based organizations in the developing world towards
guaranteeing access to these devices will be a welcome relief.
·
Develop truly international bibliographic standards.
·
The new
interfaces should be straightforward and user-friendly.
·
Searching
is not enough. New information professionals (librarians) need to deliver
“analyzed”, “critical” information to their users. Users do not need “more”
they need “most relevant” information
LEAD CHANGE
·
Should evaluate themselves and identify their
niche. Everyone seem to have a role to
play in the information society scene other than the information science
community itself!
·
Try harder to be more visible to the information
science & technology community. Our visibility as professionals is minimal
·
Prepare policies and programmes to support the
transition into the new era
·
One possible question: Who or what drives the changes
that you feel require you to “keep up” rather than to “lead change”?
·
Yes! Lead the change, shape your on future.
Otherwise future will be shaped by
others.
·
SIG/III has a lot to offer; attending this meeting
allowed me to learn a lot, to network extensively; we should pay attention to
sustaining this movement
·
But be realist! We keep saying we want to do this, we
want to do that; fair enough. Are we able to do it?
·
Let’s not forget the potential role of public
libraries in fostering a democratic information society
·
Seen from an African village, the global village does
not exist yet. So we need to work hard to convince policy-makers, especially by
providing them with relevant information, so that they support the required
developments.
BECOME MORE OPEN
·
One of our problems is the gap between academics and
practitioners. We live in two different worlds and an effort from our side is
welcome.
·
Bridge communications gaps between academics and
practitioners
·
Employ more youths gainfully in ICT companies
·
The profession in our country suffers from
technological incompetence, exacerbated individualism and reliance upon
personal acquaintances rather than achievements and skills in the formation of
work relations.
·
Bridge communication gaps between different camps:
software, hardware, computers, telecom, broadcasting, content, Internet, etc.
·
Stop talking to ourselves. Get out and listen
to people from other communities, fields, etc.
·
SIG/III is trying to broaden perspectives within
ASIS&T in particular with the International papers contest it has been
running for several years, and with the Travel Grant that was made possible
this year by the generous support of the Eugene Garfield Foundation
·
Current US visa regulations have prevented a number of
SIG/III award winners to come to the 2002 Annual Meeting, what is a most
frustrating experience.
·
ASIS&T has participated in events abroad in the
past and should seek such opportunities more actively
EDUCATE !
·
Set in motion a process to train people with little or
no knowledge about ICTs.
·
Make the tools for education, professional development
and communication as accessible to as many individuals as possible, providing
low-cost or free communications devices, software downloads and upgrades, and
creating virtual learning environments.
·
Explain more clearly how ICT can enhance an
organisation's productivity, profits, decisions, communications, culture,
motivation, etc.
·
Explain more clearly how ICT can enhance a country's
productivity, economy, culture, democracy, ethics, etc.
·
Enable information workers to upgrade their skills
with, perhaps, workshops or liaisons.
·
Provide regular/less expensive support & training
services
·
In such a situation, constant training has become a
crucial issue that provides opportunities for people to learn new technological
skills and different cultures. It is my understanding that the information
community should take the responsibility as an educator, and individuals have
to take the advantage of the training to make themselves be able to cope with
the changes, thus work will be easier for those information science
professionals.
·
Hold national and/or international conferences in
order share ideas and promote uniform practices. Although we are not globally at the same ICT level, if there are
cross-border sharing, then development assistance may be given to areas that
are not as advanced in ICT.
Make it sAFER, idiot!
·
Take steps to curb the incidence and effects of
hackers who will exploit these openings. This could be done through coding of
confidential information.
·
Don’t treat anyone as an idiot!
Make it simple, idiot!
·
The ever repeating learning curve to master ever
changing technology is a hard price to pay for people in poor countries, and
makes little sense to us, because most of the new functionalities that are
being built into the latest technology has little to do with the
infrastructural reality we live in.
·
One piece of evidence for this is computers, basically
as soon as you buy one it has become obsolete and you need to rush out to buy
software to make it compatible with the new technological revolution.
·
Avoid repeating IT industry jargon to the users
·
Simplify terminology and make ICTs accessible and
useful
·
People who work in the ICT industry are supposed to
help humans communicate better; but often we can find just the opposite.
Technical incompatibility is just one example. Who produce the most important
technical standards? Not influenced by representatives of end users/neutral
organisations, as far as I know.
·
Use as much as possible the soft systems approach to
manage hard systems (otherwise the latter would be too hard and inhuman)
·
Try harder to offer user-friendly cost-effective ICT
devices for end users
·
Continue to develop international standards for
classifying and providing consistency so users from around the globe will
continue to benefit from this wonderful but daunting tool (the Internet).
·
People who write the freewares are not (well) paid.
Rich ICT suppliers can employ the best brains to generate the sharpest ICT
devices and marketing techniques so that more and more lay end users are
attracted to buy them (most of them follow currents; they are not clear about
their real needs).
·
Struggle for systematic use of open source software,
when- where ever suitable, so that you are not trapped in a spiral of updates,
new version, etc.
·
Robbery! Vote for open source
Make it CHEAPER, idiot!
·
Liaise with information technology companies and
multinationals as well as the United Nations to take concrete actions to make
their products cheaper.
·
Thorough standards for information sources and better
funding for resources are thus important.
We must battle marginalization, and publicize the importance of
non-profit access.
·
Availability of cheaper and tailor-made programmes
·
In some countries university faculty own their IP 100%
… U.S., U.S. policy …
BECOME MULTI-LINGUAL & -CULTURAL
·
Share imagination
in order to find expressions that can truly respond to the various national
concepts and languages rather than “cut-&-paste” English ones.
·
The global information highway should be combined with
1° promoting
language learning so that a one could express oneself in one’s own language and
understand people using several other languages
2° Develop
enhanced automatic translation systems
3° Systematically
develop multi-lingual data bases and information resources
4° Make full use
of the talent of professional translators
·
It might be a solution for some libraries in the
multi-cultural community to set up multi-cultural service, such as
multi-cultural consultant desk to meet the special needs of the ethnic groups.
This might be one of the best ways to reduce the burdens of the individual’s.
·
Information institutions should offer some foreign
languages or culture courses besides the information technology curriculum
either for professional training or continue education.
·
Translate
programmes into local languages
·
In Arabic speaking countries people tend to search
first for Web pages in their language. Eventually instant automatic translation
is available but its results are often disappointing if not outrageously wrong
(though possibly amusing). Information professionals with their knowledge of
terminology should help develop more effective translation devices.
·
The vast majority of people in Indonesia cannot read
English; together we should join forces to try and find solutions to such
problems
·
Even though
infrastructures are still weak in my country, Ethiopia, we now have better
conditions of access. What is really critical is the provision of relevant and
usable content that can contribute to improving users’ welfare
·
There is a need to demonstrate the theoretical value
of all research being carried out outside the US so that knowledge creation
could become more global
TURN TABLE FOR A DEMAND DRIVEN ICT DEVELOPMENT
·
Whatever marketing jargon one would like to use
explain their tactics, most ICT suppliers are not addressing the real needs of
end users. Some argue that consumers of fashion, entertainment, etc. do not
know their real needs either; as long as the marketers can generate a current
for the (stupid?) consumers to follow, they can be called innovative and
successful!
·
What can be done 'in practice' to make the ICT
industry more demand-pull.
o
Long way to go. One more reason to start early :-)
o
Demonstrating the successful cases of "more
appopriate" use of ICT, in particular with the promotion of open source
software.
o
In some instance wide mobilizations, such as the
"Internet strikes" have some effect.
o
In principle, demonstrating to those in charge of
large purchases, e.g. the educational institutions or public agencies the
savings that could be derived from better use and improvement of what already
exist.
o
But basically the worst bug is humans' fascination for
the "New" and "More" discourse of industry. 1Mh more of
chip speed won't add any sense to the applications for which they are used.
·
Provide the up to date technology that will be needed
in order to do the job.
·
Another avenue could be to get organized in such a way
that your concerns and interest could be presented and defended. While
businesses are increasingly concentrated, users' communities continue to be
atomized.
·
The manufacturers of IT are competing in a growing
market. They need a good deal of differentiation to attract the new buyers.
This differentiation takes the form, from most companies, of added features,
rather than style. A mature industry (e.g. the auto industry) adds relatively
few features each year but does a lot with stylistic (read aesthetic) aspects
of their products. A 1960's car is completely compatible with the current roads
and driving protocols. Even a 1910 car can still drive on the highways without
too much "incompatibility".
·
Knock down as many barriers as possible due to
imcompatible technical standards (net-net, terminal-net). International neutral
bodies should be empowered to make universal standard decisions; suppliers can
still compete based on other strengths e.g. pricing, features, styles, customer
service.
·
International standards, YES! For instance I have a
laptop with me but the hotel has no converter for European power supplies and
it is impossible to find one in Philadelphia; they have only US to Europe
converters, not the other way around!
·
It is not a simple either /or, not only software. For
example it is important to protect the integrity of the information/image, etc.
beyond economic concerns
·
If information professionals intend to improve access
they must start at a lower level than education and hardware. Fundamental infrastructures
such as power supply, sanitation, nutrition, etc. must be addressed before the
training can be effective and the computers used to connect to the Internet.
BECOME ETHICAL
·
The world of business is fully corrupted. No way to
win a contract on the basis of technical competence, what matters is the size
of the commission offered. A real jungle !
·
Suppliers also fund universities with the objective
that the latter would produce the right research findings or buy the right
equipment.
·
Is resource power the strongest power source? Any wise
advice for the community to get out from this unfavourable situation?
·
Study information ethics and work to practice it!
·
Concerns for security are legitimate but should not
eliminate concerns for pluralism, diversity and fair treatment
MORE PRESSURE
·
Blurred boundaries for my work life and home life
·
I have much more work to do.
·
I know that it will become more harried; there is a
sense that we need to be available at all times, both for work and play. The ICT advances allow people to communicate
through a variety of means (email, websites, mobile telephones, voice and text
messaging services), and therefore places new demands are being available at
all hours, wherever you are.
·
The competition will be very intensive, so, we all
should prepare for this.
·
Fairly painless probably because I have literally
"grown up" with the technology involved.
NEED TO KEEP ABREAST WITH ICT
·
With reluctance, I will need to spend a bigger
proportion of my time to learn how to work through the use of ICT
MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT
·
I will perhaps start thinking global and try my best
to compete in the rat race, since I am anxious to burn my fingers and learn,
and in the process contribute to programmes that allows for challenges
·
As for the community - it is useful in the way of
ideas exchanges.
·
As well, ICT removes borders and I believe that I will
become more political, as the widespread dissemination of information will
propel me into taking action, in some form, against certain injustices
throughout the world.
·
I strongly disagree. Online communication is highly
depersonalized and cut from other means which allow for facial expression or
voice inflection to add meaning and context. The emergence of “symbols” which
attempt at adding content is a poor substitute. For me writing a latter is much
more thoughtful form of communication than clicking “reply” and dashing off a
response
MORE INEQUALITIES
·
There are
many risks involved with globalization, and it is only economic advantage that
allows me to experience the advantages of a diverse array of information that I
benefit from as an informed citizen.
·
It is not
the rich versus the poor. It is poorly funded types of institutions within a
country and segments of population
MORE AND DIFFERENT
COMMUNICATION
·
It is not easy to open the mail box every day and try
to cope with it. On the other side, it is wonderful to exchange ideas with lots
of people from the information community.
·
For
instance, I am (now) more likely to “chat” online and exchange digitalized
images than I am to make a costly long-distance telephone call or to mail an
expensive and fragile package of photos, but the experience is no less
‘personal’.
·
The very important thing, is the possibility to do
choices: one can choose friends to talk to, send and receive messages, all over
the world in the same day
·
The changes to my personal life are less far reaching
because I don't spend all day now looking for information so I don't feel the
changes that much right now. The one
thing that I have noticed is my e-mail is getting more and more junk sent
through it, which I then have to sift through to keep the good and delete the
chaff. To cope with the change I need
to constantly check my e-mail so I don't end up with 100 messages waiting for
me every time I open my e-mail account up.
·
While the
advent of electronic mail, discussion boards and the Internet may increase the
opportunity for making global connections, the information society has not
impacted on me personally because interconnectedness is a two-way street. The opportunity to be anonymous, isolated
and secluded is still possible if we choose it to be, despite the encroachment
globalization has made on our everyday lives.
·
Access to worldwide resources via communication media
and information technologies has allowed us to bridge the digital divide, even
in the comfort of our own homes. The most noteworthy change, I believe, would
be the way in which we communicate and access most of our everyday resources,
for instance, shopping. Computers are changing all our personal relationships
and transactions. The ‘convenience stores’
of our lives are all online.
RISE OF MULTI-CULTURALISM
·
For acquisition of information and knowledge, national
boundaries will become less relevant
·
Gainful information and education opportunities
because the globalization process will break the existing barriers to
information and communication flow worldwide.
·
A friend in Adelaide, Australia will respond
differently to the use of “smilies” than another friend from Osaka, Japan,
because each has a different idea of civil discourse based on life experience
and acculturation.
MORE INTRUSIONS
·
Through e-mail and Internet access, physical distances
are closing, but these communication infrastructures translate into more
mediums through which we can be bombarded as consumers. Internet advertising is a good example of
this. If reliable funding were
available, such pervasive tactics could be used less.
·
The ideology and technology of globalization also
means that our personal information, such as banking transactions, purchasing
records, even our addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail messages, can be
obtained by those who have the power and intent to abuse the technological
medium. For the sake of personal
freedom, privacy must be addressed.
NEW FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT
·
Against my wish, ICT-based entertainment will
increase, as traditional entertainment will fall in supply (increase in cost)
KEEP SOCIALIZING
·
Keep talking and listening and pick up jargons. But, at the same time, spend quality time
thinking and engaging in action-programmes that bring forth new perspectives
·
Purposely find time to do traditional social
interactions in private life to compensate for the loss in work life
·
Explore different ways to enjoy life, with or without
the use of ICT so as not to be bored by it as it will fill most parts of my
life
·
Should
embrace the traditional methods of communication and interaction with family
and friends.
·
Being able
to see others, e.g. the new babay, helps in communication especially for those
home-bound or limited in physical access
SEEK PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
·
Professional
development works in conjunction with our personal development, thus
influencing all aspects of our lives.
KEEP LEARNING
·
Better computer knowledge and devices related to
information technology management.
·
Should not
succumb to the feeling that ICT is running my life While the information age in
which we live provides us with
·
great
learning opportunities.
·
Education on the proper use of these new technologies
would increase our knowledge and enable us to use them intelligently.
·
Information science’s key role would be in education
and training.
(RE-)GAIN LEADERSHIP
·
Lobby for more!
·
Regain its position as the profession that protects
the heart of learning.
·
Emphasize
that globalization is not fatality but rather an individual choice as to how
connected we want to be to our global community
SEEK Multidisciplinarity
·
Encourage people in the South as well as young
thinkers to interact with the rest and the so-called big and strong
·
Employ a bigger proportion of social scientists so
that new technologies and ways would be adopted by the general public more
smoothly
PROMOTE INFORMATION CULTURE
·
Set up
study centres on computer education and appreciation
·
Speak less technical jargon to bridge communications
gaps
APPROPRIATE & FRIENDLY SYSTEMS
·
Introduce a sense of human interaction within ICT that
would assist in the continuation of our old communication means.
·
Offer affordable, user-friendly, comfortable,
entertaining systems
·
Ensure that ICT can consist of fun and varied
tools.
·
The diffusion of
information should be interactive and engaging as my attention spans diminishes
when staring at a computer screen.
·
Create and
implement policies and standards that address the problem of blurring borders
between professional and personal spaces, and lead by example.
·
Develop better spam filters, but at this point that is a minor
consideration.